Refuse compactor

ABSTRACT

A compactor for reducing the volume of solid wastes or garbages. A compacting cylinder is operated until the solid wastes or garbage have been reduced to the desired volume. The compacted mass is then ejected from the compactor machine through the actuation of a single valve which controls in predetermined sequence, the opening of a gate for ejecting the compacted mass and an ejection cylinder which forces the mass through the gate. The valves for controlling the compacting cylinder, as well as the ejection cylinder and gate cylinder, are solenoid controlled. The solenoid valves are de-energized at the end of the compaction cycle through the operation of a pressure actuated switch.

United States Patent [191 Trajb'ar [45 Dec. 24, 1974 REFUSE COMPACTQR [76]' Inventor: Branko Trajbar, 9 Falcon Ct.,

Farmingville, Long Island, NY. 1 l73 8 122] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 325,876

I 11.8. CL... 100/49, 100/52, 100/53, 100/215, 100/218, 100/229 A, 100/269 R [51] Int. Cl B301) 15/6 [58] Field 01 Search 100/49, 218, 2 15, 52, 53, i 100/269 R, 229 A; 91/412 [56] References Cited V I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,874 10/1958 McBride 91/412 3,481,268 12/1969 Price et al i 100/229 A 3,608,476

9/1971 Price et al 100/218 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max Fogiel [57] ABSTRACT A compacto'r for reducing the volume of solid wastes or garbages. A compacting cylinder is operated until the solid wastes or garbage have been reduced to the desired volume. The compacted mass is then ejected from the compactor machine through the actuation of a single valve which controls in predetermined sequence, the opening of a gate for ejecting the compacted'mass and an ejection cylinder which forces the mass through the gate. The valves for controlling the compacting cylinder, as well as the ejection cylinder and gate cylinder,'are solenoid controlled. The solenoid valves are de-energized at the end of the compaction cycle through the operation of a pressure actuated switch.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3 855,918

swan 1 BF 3 FI6./ k2 F/G. Z

L COMPACTING Y K I: 1 CYCLE l CONTROL :1 POWER 5 a c SUPPLY sum 2 IF 3 GATE CYLINDER 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I f I II II II :I I II II II II I I I |I JI J ,JZZ

E JECTION CYLINDER ;cmmcrrms I MZZQ,

CYLINDER CONTROL CIRCUIT PUMP I I I ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT L\NES FLUID FLOW LINES LEGEND MOTOR REFUSE COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Compactors for use in environmental control for the purpose of reducing the volume of solid wastes or garbage are already known in the art. In such compactors, ahorizontally reciprocating compacting cylinder and piston are operated against an accumulation of the waste material. The compacting piston is stopped in its operation when the wastes have been reduced to a predetermined volume or density. Thereafter, the compacted mass is ejected from the machine by first opening a gate or door usually located at the base of the machine. Once the gate has thus been opened, an ejection cylinder is operated'to push the compacted mass downward and out of the compacting machine. The compacted mass is thereby forced in a downward direction and dropped into a disposable plastic bag for subsequent removal to a waste collection station where the wastes are ultimately disposed.

In the compactors known in the art, heretofore, the compaction of the solid wastes was performed through a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder. The operation of this cylinder was controlled through a solenoid-actuated hydraulic valve. The gate or door through which the compacted mass is ejected, was also operated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston controlled by a separate solenoid-actuated hydraulic valve. The compacted mass was ejected by a still further hydraulic cylinder and piston which was, in turn, controlled in its operation by a third solenoid-actuated valve. The use of three such separate solenoids-actuated valves for the three separate hydraulic cylinders and pistons causes the machines known in the art to be complex in design and costly in both manufacture and maintenance.

The compactors already known in the art, furthermore, terminate the compaction cycle and return the machines to their initial or starting positions upon the actuation of various limit switches. These limit switches are actuated by the three hydraulic cylinders and pistons at predetermined positions of these pistons. The use of such limit switches for terminating the compacting cycle serves to further complicate the design and control circuitry of the machine and to impart a high cost to such machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a compactor for solid wastes in which only two solenoidac tuated valves are used for controlling the three hydraulic cylinders and pistons associated with the com paction, ejection and exit gate or door opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compactor of the foregoing character in which the three hydraulic cylinders and pistons are returned to their initial starting positions through the operation of valve. After compaction of the solid waste material, a second solenoid-actuated valve operates the hydraulic cylinder and piston for opening the gate or exit door through which the compacted mass is to be ejected. After the gate has thus been opened, the ejection cylinder is operated from the same second solenoidactuated valve for the purpose of ejecting the compacted mass through the gate or exit door. The fluid lines leading to the hydraulic cylinder and piston'for ejection of the compacted mass have greater resistance to the fluid flow, than the fluid lines leading through the hydraulic cylinder and piston for the gate. As a result, the gate is opened prior to operating the ejection cylinder and piston. At the same time, both cylinders and pistons for the ejection of the mass and the opening of the gates are operated from one and the same solenoidactuate d valve.

After ejection of the compacted mass has been completed, the fluid pressure for operating the cylinders and pistons is allowed to rise, while all three cylinders and pistons are straining in their actuated positions. After the fluid pressure has built up to a predetermined level, a pressure switch is actuated which then signals a control circuit for de-energizing the two solenoid v valves.

The novel features whichare considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the compactor, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram and shows the hydraulic and electrical controlling elements for operating the compactor in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram, and shows one embodiment of the control circuit used in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an arrangement for increasing the fluid flow resistance in one fluid line relative to another in the compactor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a further embodiment for increasing the fluid flow resistance in one fluid line relative to another in the compactor of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing and in particular to FIG. 1, the compactor In accordance with the present invention has a waste collection chute 10 into which the waste materials to be compacted, are dropped. Thus, the chute 10 may be located beneath the end of a shaft in an apartment house, into which tenants drop their garbage or waste materials. After such waste materials or garbage has accumulated to the extent that it reaches the level of an electric eye 12, the latter be-' comes actuated and transmits a signal for the purpose Compaction of the mass is accomplished by a horizontally moving piston within the cylinder 14. After the waste material has been compacted, the mass resides within the space or chamber 16 at the extremeforward end of the piston of cylinder 14.

To eject the compacted mass from the machine, a gate or exit door 18 at the bottom of the chamber 16 is moved into open position. This gate 18 is moved into such open position by being withdrawn by a hydraulic piston and cylinder 20. When the gate 18 has thus been removed from underneath the compacted mass within the chamber 16, a vertically moving piston and cylinder 22 forces the compacted mass downward so that the mass drops into a disposable plastic bag held by a holder 24'beneath the gate opening. A plurality of such bag holders 24 are provided adjacent to each other, so

that they may be advanced in sequence beneath the 4 gate 18 for receiving compacted bales or masses at the ends of a plurality of compacting cycles.

The compactor is also provided with an access door 26 which enables operating personnel to gain access into the interior of the chute or compactor. A safety switch 28 serves as an interlock which prevents power from operating the machine when the access door is in open position. Fires that may be started within the machine as a result of inflammable materials dropped into the .chute, may be readily extinguished through the water inlet'30. The controls for operating the machine by personnel, are on a control panel 32.

The hydraulic piston and cylinders 14, 'and 22 are operated through fluid pressurized by a pump 38 driven by a motor 40. The fluid pump 38 draws fluid from a reservoir 42, and pumps the fluid under pressure into the fluid lines leading to the cylinders 14, 20 and 22.

a Return lines from these three cylinders lead back to the reservoir 42, the return line 42a. Fluid flow toward and from the three hydraulic cylinders 14 20 and 22, is controlled by two valves 34 and 36. Each of these two valves 34 and 36 are actuated by electrical solenoids coils 34a and 36a, respectively.

ln FIG. 3, the hydraulic fluid lines are designated by solid lines, whereas electrical control lines are in broken or dash lines. Fluid flow from the pump 38 through the valves 34 and 36 and from there to'the cylinders 14, 20 and'22, is designated by' arrows in the respective lines.

The valve 34 is used to operate the compacting cylinder 14 only. The valve 36, on the other hand, is used to operate both the gate cylinderv 20, and the ejection cylinder 22. I

In accordance with the present invention, the fluid flow path from the valve 36 to the ejection cylinder 22 is longer than the fluid flow path to the gate cylinder 20. Asa result, the time interval for fluid flow to reach the ejection cylinder 22 from the valve 36, is longer than the time interval for the fluid flow to reach the gate cylinder 20 from the same valve 36. In view of this arrangement, therefore, the gate cylinder '20 becomes actuated before the ejection cylinder 22, even though .both cylinders are controlled with fluid flow from the same and identical valve 36. It is essential that the gate cylinder 20 becomes actuated prior to the actuation of the ejection cylinder 22, in order to assure that the gate 18 has been withdrawn before the piston of ejection cylinder 22 is moved in the downward direction for the purpose of ejecting the compacted mass from out of the chamber or space 16.

Operation of the gate cylinder 20 before operating ejection cylinder 22 when both cylinders are controlled from the same valve 36, may also be accomplished in a different manner. Thus, cylinder 20 is supplied with pressurized fluid from the. valve 36 through the line 20a. The ejection cylinder 22, at the same time, is suppliedd with fluid under pressure from the valve 36 through the inlet line 22a. Bothof these inlet lines 20a and 22a, are supplied by the valve output line 36b. By providing that the resistance to fluid flow in inlet line 22a, is greater than theresistance to flow in line 200, then gate cylinder 20 will be operated with assurance for operation of the ejection cylinder 22. Increasing the resistance to fluid flow in line 22a may be accomplished, accordingly, by constricting the flow along this path through either a smaller diameter pipeline, (FIG. 5) or inserting a throttling device such as an orifice (22 of FIG. 6) or other similar constriction in the line 22a. Resistance to fluid flow may' also'be achieved by increasing the surface roughness on the internal wall of the pipeline 22a. Consequently, in assuring that the '12 has become actuated as a result of the accumulation of waste material within the chute 10, the signal from the electric eye 12 is applied to a control circuit 44. This control circuit serves to .control electrically the states of the solenoids 34a and 36a, and thereby the positions of their respective valves 34 and 36. Accordingly, the control circuit 44 serves to provide that the cylinders 14, 20 and 22 are operated in predetermined sequence.

Upon transmission of a signal'from the electric eye 12 to the control circuit 44, the latter causes solenoid 34a to become energized to permit fluid flow to be applied und'er pressure from the pump 38 to the compacting cylinder 14, through the inlet line 14a. The compacting cylinder 14 is now operated for a length of time until the fluid pressure within the line at the output of the pump 38 attains a value of, for example, 700 psi. At this pressure, the mass is compacted to substantially the desired density, and a signal is transmitted by the pressure switch 46 to the control circuit 44. When, upon attainment of this fluid pressure, the piston of cylinder 14 has also attained its most forward extreme positions, then switch 48 is actuated mechanically by this piston and transmits also a signal to control circuit 44. Thus, switch 48 serves as a limit switch which is actuated when the piston of compacting cylinder 14 is fully extended. Upon the simultaneous presence of signals from the pressure switch 46 and the switch 48, the con-- trol circuit prevents further operation of the compacting cylinder 14. This cylinder 14 is stopped with the piston remaining in the fully extended position.

After the compacting cylinder 14 has been stopped in operation by the control circuit 44, the latter then actuates the valve 36 for the purpose of operating, in sequence, the gate cylinder 20 and'then the ejection cylinder 22. After the compacted mass has been ejected from the machine through the gate opening formed by withdrawal of the gate 18, the'fluid pressure is allowed to build up while all three cylinder pistons are straining in their extreme actuated positions. When the fluid pressure, in this manner, rises to a level of, forexample, 2500 psi; the pressure Operated switch 50 transmits a-signal to the control circuit. Upon receipt of a signal from the high pressure switch50, the control circuit causes solenoids 34a and 36a to become deenergized,so that all three cylinders 14, and 22 may be returned to their initial starting positions. The return of the three cylinders to their initial positions, in this manner, may be delayed by, for example, 3 seconds, afteractuation of the pressure switch 50, for the purpose of assuring that the compacted mass has been fully ejected and the machine has been cleared, preparatory for a new cycle.

The logic function of the control circuit'44 may be accomplished in numerous different ways through the use of such logic elements as relays, switching transistors, switching circuits or combinations of these elements. FIG. 4 illustrates one possible embodiment of the control circuit 44.

When the electric eye 12 is actuated, the signal from this element 12 energizes a relay 52. Upon actuation of this relay 52 the latter remains energized as a result of the holding circuit from the power supply 54 and through the pressure switch 50. The power supply 54 can be simply in the form of a utility line outlet. The pressure switch 50 is normally closed, when not actuated. The holding circuit for relay 52 retains this relay in energized position, even though the signal from the electric eye 12 is only of temporary form because it stops to prevail after the garbage drops below the level of the electric eye while being compacted.

With relay 52 energized, in this manner, the compacting cycle control unit 56 is energized. This unit 56 is in the form of,'for example, a conventional motordriven timer for the purpose of timing the duration of the operation of the compacting cylinder 14. With the simultaneous operation of the pressure switch 46 and the forward switch 48, a relay 58 becomes energized. As a result of operating relay 58, a signal is transmitted to the unit 56 to stop the motordriven timer and thereby stop operation of the compacting cylinder 14. For this purpose, the output ofth control unit 46 is connected to the valve 34 which then holds the piston of cylinder 14 in its forward-most extended position. At the same time, the operation of relay 58 also serves to actuate the valve 36,'and thereby the gate and ejection cylinders in their respective sequence.

When, thereafter, vthe compacted mass has been ejected, and the fluid pressure has built up to the higher level of, for example 2,500 psi, pressure switch 50 becomes opened and interrupts the circuit from the power supply 54, thereby releasing relay 52. With the release of relay 52, all circuit elements are deenergized, including the valves 34 and 36, and the hydraulic cylinders 14, 20 and 22 are thereby allowed to return to their initial, starting positions. To'delay the de-energizing of the valves 34 and 36 after switch 50 has opened, relay 52 may be constructed with a time delay of 3 seconds, forexample, associated with the release of this relay. Thus, whereas this relay, is energized without delay, it will not release until 3 seconds, for example, after its coil has been deenergized. Such timedelay relays are well known in the art and are commercially available.

From an examination of the control circuit of FIG. 4, it will be clear that the elements in this circuit embodiment may be interconnected in different ways to perform the same logic function designated for this circuit. The motor-driven timer 56 is well known in the art and is commercially available, as are the valves 34 and 36. For this reason, these elements are not further de scribed. In place of the relays52 and 58, furthermore, electronic switching circuits may be used, as, for example, transistor switching circuits.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims;

1. A compactor for waste materials comprising, in combination, collecting means for collecting a predetermined quantity of said waste material; sensing means on said collecting means for sensing when a predetermined quantity of waste material is present in said collecting means; compacting meansactuated by said sensing means for compacting substantially saidquantity of waste material; compacting control means connected to said compacting means and operating said compacting means until said quantity of waste material has been compacted by a predeterminedamount; exit gate means in contact with the compactedmaterial, said compacted material passing through said exit gate means for removal from said compactor; gate operating means linked to said gate means for removing said gate means from contact with said compacted material and forming a free passage for said compacted material from said compactor; ejection means movable against said compacted material and toward said exit gate means for ejecting said compacted material from said compactor through said free passage; compacted waste ejection control means for controlling said gate operating means and said ejection means; first connecting means between said ejection control means and said gate operating means; and second connecting means between said ejection control means and said ejection means, said second connecting means actuating said ejection means after said first connecting means has actuated said gate operating means, said first connecting means and said second connecting means being actuated simultaneously by said ejection control means, said gate operating means and said ejection means comprising hydraulically operated cylinders and pistons, said first connecting means and said second connecting means being fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means having greater resistance to fluid flow than the fluid line of said first-con- 4. The compactor as defined in claim 3including hydraulic pressure sensing means communicating with said compacting means and saidcompacting control means for terminating the operation of said compacting means when the hydraulic pressure applied to said 7 I compacting means has attained a predetermined level.

5.'The compactor as defined in claim 3 including a solenoid actuated fluid valve in said compacting control means for controlling the fluid flow to and from the cylinder and piston of said compacting means; and timing control means for timing the operation of said piston of said compacting means.

6. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said exit gate means is beneath said compacted material, said ejection means being above said compacted material. 1

7. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid lines connecting said ejection control means to the cylinders and pistons of said gate operating means and said ejection means, the fluid line of said second connecting means being longer than the fluid line of said first connecting means.

8. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means being smaller in cross-section than the fluid flow line of said first connecting means. I

9. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means having a constriction for delaying fluid flow therethrough.

10. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said ejection control means is a solenoid actuated fluid valve, said first connecting means and said second connecting means comprising fluid flow lines.

1 1. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said compacting means, gate operating means and. ejection means are separate hydraulically operated cylinders and pistons, said pistons being all in their extreme actuated positions upon passage of said compacted material through said exit gate means.

12. The compactor as defined in claim 11 including a fluid pressure operated switch communicating with said cylinders of said compacting means, gate operating means and ejection means, said pressure operated switch releasing 'said pistons from their extreme actuated positions to their initial starting positions when the pressure in said cylinders and sensed by said switch exceeds a predetermined level. 

1. A compactor for waste materials comprising, in combination, collecting means for collecting a predetermined quantity of said waste material; sensing means on said collecting means for sensing when a predetermined quantity of waste material is present in said collecting means; compacting means actuated by said sensing means for compacting substantially said quantity of waste material; compacting control means connected to said compacting means and operating said compacting means until said quantity of waste material has been compacted by a predetermined amount; exit gate means in contact with the compacTed material, said compacted material passing through said exit gate means for removal from said compactor; gate operating means linked to said gate means for removing said gate means from contact with said compacted material and forming a free passage for said compacted material from said compactor; ejection means movable against said compacted material and toward said exit gate means for ejecting said compacted material from said compactor through said free passage; compacted waste ejection control means for controlling said gate operating means and said ejection means; first connecting means between said ejection control means and said gate operating means; and second connecting means between said ejection control means and said ejection means, said second connecting means actuating said ejection means after said first connecting means has actuated said gate operating means, said first connecting means and said second connecting means being actuated simultaneously by said ejection control means, said gate operating means and said ejection means comprising hydraulically operated cylinders and pistons, said first connecting means and said second connecting means being fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means having greater resistance to fluid flow than the fluid line of said first connecting means.
 2. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises an electric eye.
 3. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said compacting means comprises a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston.
 4. The compactor as defined in claim 3 including hydraulic pressure sensing means communicating with said compacting means and said compacting control means for terminating the operation of said compacting means when the hydraulic pressure applied to said compacting means has attained a predetermined level.
 5. The compactor as defined in claim 3 including a solenoid actuated fluid valve in said compacting control means for controlling the fluid flow to and from the cylinder and piston of said compacting means; and timing control means for timing the operation of said piston of said compacting means.
 6. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said exit gate means is beneath said compacted material, said ejection means being above said compacted material.
 7. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid lines connecting said ejection control means to the cylinders and pistons of said gate operating means and said ejection means, the fluid line of said second connecting means being longer than the fluid line of said first connecting means.
 8. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means being smaller in cross-section than the fluid flow line of said first connecting means.
 9. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means and said second connecting means are fluid flow lines, the fluid flow line of said second connecting means having a constriction for delaying fluid flow therethrough.
 10. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said ejection control means is a solenoid actuated fluid valve, said first connecting means and said second connecting means comprising fluid flow lines.
 11. The compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said compacting means, gate operating means and ejection means are separate hydraulically operated cylinders and pistons, said pistons being all in their extreme actuated positions upon passage of said compacted material through said exit gate means.
 12. The compactor as defined in claim 11 including a fluid pressure operated switch communicating with said cylinders of said compacting means, gate operating means and ejection means, said pressure operated switch releasing said pistons from their extreme actuated positions to their initial starting Positions when the pressure in said cylinders and sensed by said switch exceeds a predetermined level. 